UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I was considering having my DD's 3rd birthday at our home in the backyard. It would be held in mid-July and my concern is the heat. (FWIW, we don't have a pool.)

What time of day is ideal for a toddler's birthday in the middle of summer?

I thought of doing it between 11am-1pm, but my DH thinks we might be better off doing a late afternoon party since we intend to invite my DD's classmates' family (siblings & parents...and whoever else they want to bring.)



Anybody have any experience with this or words of wisdom?!

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5/27
Ok girls, some more opinions are needed.

So I've decided not to rent inflatables and just buy a couple of the big water slides (we're going to need them for our party in June anyway and it's not like they'll go to waste since we don't have a pool.) I'm thinking we won't need a tent because we have 3 large umbrellas (two 11' and a 13') and guests are more than welcome in the house.

My concern is if I have the party start at 3PM on a Saturday, do you think a lot of people will decline because it eats into their day? When I say people, I mean classmates & their family because I know our family and close friends would be there, BUT this party is really for her to enjoy some time with her classmates from preschool.

Every party we have been to for her classmates started earlier, like around 11am/12pm.


Would you say yes to your child's classmate's party if it started at 3PM?



I don't know why I'm complicating this so much.

Message edited 5/27/2009 5:35:27 PM.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I think late afternoon is still hot but guess it depends on YOUR yard and how the sun shines into it too!

late afternoon is brutal in my yard as we face east. DS's 1st b-day party will start at 3 pm so we are getting a tent!

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Honestly, there is no way you can determine what it will be like. My sister had a surprise engagement party for us (yrs ago) on Aug 1 and it was terribly hot! BRUTAL! We've also had my son's bday party every year at the end of August and the first yr it was cold enough to wear pants, the second and third years it was nice. This year we are doing it again so we will see.....

We always have our parties around 3pm.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I think late afternoon is best. In terms of the kids, maybe set up some wet activities like slip n slides, small pools, inflatable sprinklers, beach balls or even a small water slide. Years ago I had a large summer party and I bought a small inflatable water slide and the kids loved it. Buying it turned out to only be a few dollars more than renting and in all honesty we used it all summer.

In terms of the adults maybe a tent or some other covering????

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Do you have shade? renting a tent? You can always put out baby pools or slip n slides for the kids, but the adults will suffer if its really hot. Although I will say I've been guilty of "letting" the kids splash me or the accidently running into the sprinkler

Do you have AC in the house? I've been to alot of summer out door parties and we often pop in and out of the house to cool down.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

My backyard gets mostly direct sun during the summer, from 10am until about 4pm. The swing-set area is heavily shaded and we have a couple of large trees, but it's not nearly enough to cover the center of our backyard.

This shot was taken around 12-1pm (we'll have a lawn by party time ):


I was trying to avoid renting a tent because we're having another party here the month prior which is involving tent rentals, etc.. (I was trying not to get carried away with this party.)

I wanted to rent a couple of inflatables, like a bouncer and a slide for the kids. Initially I wanted water slides, but my DH thought it might be easier on the parents if they didn't have to worry about drying/changing their kids.

And yes, our home has central AC and if need be, I'd be able to accommodate everyone in the house, but I figured it would be more fun outdoors, especially if I rented the inflatables.


Ugh...now I know why people have their DC's party at a place instead of at home.

Message edited 5/25/2009 10:23:13 PM.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Definitely do the water slide! Just put something about bring your swimsuits on the invite. It's SOOOOO worth it on a hot day. We've been to a few parties with them and like I said I don't mind carry my wet kid when I'm hot. It keeps the kids happy, so mom is happy!! I don't know the ages you are inviting but if there are little ones too, make sure you have a baby pool or sprinkler going so they can keep cool and have fun too.

ETA I'm renting tables with umbrellas. It's MUCH cheaper than a tent and provides shade.

Message edited 5/25/2009 10:26:30 PM.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I agree about the water slide. On a hot day the inflatables get really hot, almost too hot for the kids to enjoy. However, a water slide will keep them cool and assuming a hot day, they will dry off in no time.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I'd go with the 3pm party. This way everyone's had their nap and it's not the hottest part of the day. Water slides are always good in July. Have fun

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Thanks for your input girls! :)

DH and I are about to discuss it further. I'm torn on this party because the more thought I put into it, the more expensive it gets.

I miss the old days where we went to someone's home and played hot-potato and pin the tail on the donkey, had some cake and went home.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I'd probably do as late as possible as long as it wasn't pushing into dusk when the bugs come out.

Looking at your backyard, even if you had a ton of tents kids are going to be running around. They won't stay under the tents, the adults will. So that means, full sun & frying for a few hours. Even 10am can get sweltering. My son did skateboarding lessons last year & we were grateful to have signed up for the 9am class because it was boiling hot by the time the 10am class started (this was in July).

Our friends have a party every year & rent huge fans out. For a kid party, it's overkill though. If you were doing the family party the same day, then I'd go for it.

If you do opt for the party, I'd put things out like little pop-up tents too (I have a couple you can borrow), plenty of sunscreen on hand no matter what time.

I know it sounds strange but you could get a tarp, attach it to your house to shade a good portion of it. It's not as nice as a tent, but if it's a kid's party you can incorporate it into the theme.

If you are still on the fence about the money consider that I'm paying $450 for a party for ELEVEN kids at a place.

Message edited 5/26/2009 6:09:31 AM.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

We had DD's last summer the 2nd Sat. in July. People started to show up at 3pm (invite was for 12:30 because we live in NJ). It was hot but it wasn't brutal. We also don't get full sun in the yard all day long. I didn't rent any tents because we really don't have level grounds to put it. So only an umbrella from our patio set. Their are some areas that are shaded and guests seem to manage to find spots. I did rent tables and chairs and had it set up inside figuring that is where people would sit because of the hit and one person did. So from now on I am not renting tables anymore. Some how people managed to find a space outside.

Re: Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Posted by nrthshgrl

I'd probably do as late as possible as long as it wasn't pushing into dusk when the bugs come out.

Looking at your backyard, even if you had a ton of tents kids are going to be running around. They won't stay under the tents, the adults will. So that means, full sun & frying for a few hours. Even 10am can get sweltering. My son did skateboarding lessons last year & we were grateful to have signed up for the 9am class because it was boiling hot by the time the 10am class started (this was in July).

Our friends have a party every year & rent huge fans out. For a kid party, it's overkill though. If you were doing the family party the same day, then I'd go for it.

If you do opt for the party, I'd put things out like little pop-up tents too (I have a couple you can borrow), plenty of sunscreen on hand no matter what time.

I know it sounds strange but you could get a tarp, attach it to your house to shade a good portion of it. It's not as nice as a tent, but if it's a kid's party you can incorporate it into the theme.

If you are still on the fence about the money consider that I'm paying $450 for a party for ELEVEN kids at a place.

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

Bump for some added questions in my orginal post.

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

why dont you have the classmates at 11am-1pm / or 10:30-12:30 or whatever 2-4hr block, depending on what you prefer/plan to do, etc. (most classmates parties have an end time anyway) so this way that party is done by 1pm, (and like you said classmates dont always come for sure, depending on their days plans, but its great for both (You and them) when there's a set start and end time). and you can have close family and friends at 3pm.

i recently put optional dropoff for my sons "classmate" party (At my house) and those with siblings in sports, etc, were so happy to be able to still get their other kids to things, and not have the little one miss the party, another thing to think about. and the dropoff thing is a very individual decision, but its good to have the option.

when I first heard someone do this I thought it was an awesome idea.

Message edited 5/27/2009 5:51:15 PM.

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

If my child's classmate's party started at 3pm, then that's when I bring them.

The only thing that would change that was if we had another event we were previously committed to. The time of day wouldn't matter to me. Doesn't mattter if it ate into my day. I had kids - and part of having them is not making it about me but making it about them, their fun & their friendships.

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I would prefer a 3:00 start because Ryan still naps. Good luck!

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

time never really matters to us, but just be prepared for it being hot.

My kids were born in June and including the day they were born - there have been heat waves (except one year)

the tents helped us a lot...but thankfully last year we have a firetruck that spurt water...

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I don't think 3pm is late at all and I would come weather it was family, friend or classmate. I think I stated in my other post but, I had put 12:30 for DD's party last year and nobody showed up until 3pm and those were the first guests. Granted I live an hour and half away from most people but still. For DS's party this year I did 2pm.

My whole take on birthday parties is that if the guest you are inviting wants to be there they will come regardless of time.

I don't think you need to rent tents either with those huge umbrella's.

I did have a kiddie pool set up last year and it was big hit with the kids. Maybe a few of those depending on how many kids you have. I know last year TRU had a hard plastic pool that looked like an elephant. Out of the middle was the trunk and you attached the hose to it and it made a fountain in the middle. I wish I bought it because it was perfect for probably up to 8 kids and it was maybe $25. I hope they have that again this year.

Re: UPDATED w/MORE QUESTIONS! Backyard Summer Birthday Parties?

I would like a later party because you have the whole morning and early afternoon to do what you need to do.